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Packers To Keep Playoff Charge On Course In Seattle

2018-11-14

The Seattle Seahawks face a must-win clash against the Green Bay Packers at CenturyLink Field after suffering back-to-back defeats in the last two weeks.

Seattle have dropped to 4-5 in their campaign after being beaten by the Los Angeles Chargers and the Los Angeles Rams. Both matches were close defeats, but it does not help Pete Carroll’s men in the standings, with a positive result required to get back on track for a Wildcard spot in the playoffs.

Russell Wilson has failed with two late drives, although the quarterback still has made enough plays over the course of the campaign to keep his team in contention. The Seahawks are still playing slightly above expectations, but need a strong performance to keep them in the reckoning.

The Packers secured a huge win over the Miami Dolphins last week. Green Bay are in a similar position to Seattle with the benefit of a one-game advantage, although that came in a tie with the Minnesota Vikings earlier in the campaign.

Mike McCarthy’s men are still struggling for a complete performance, but are still in contention for the NFC North crown. They will have be flawless until the end of the campaign, and with Aaron Rodgers there’s always a chance to making a surge. The Packers do not have good memories of CenturyLink Field, but a win would be the perfect tonic for their season.

Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks’ momentum has been stymied over the past two weeks, losing to quality outfits in the form of the Chargers and the Rams. Seattle had recovered from their 0-2 start to the season, reeling off four wins over the next five weeks, including triumphs over the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions. They had the opportunity to make a statement against the Chargers, but fell victim to Philip Rivers and company, while Wilson threw a costly pick-six. There was time for a late comeback from Carroll’s men that fell yards short of the goalline.

Their contest against the Rams was eerily similar to their meeting earlier in the campaign. Seattle played their rivals tough over the course of the game, holding the lead at one point in the contest. However, the Rams produced enough plays on offense to pull away, while Wilson was held in check in a late comeback attempt. The Seahawks have been competitive in all of their fixtures this term, but need to start turning close defeats into wins.

The health of Chris Carson has become a vital factor in Seattle’s success. Carson was limited against the Chargers, while he was forced to miss the contest against the Rams due to injury. When the running back has been healthy, he has been a force on the field rushing for 497 yards and two touchdowns. Carson has helped ease the pressure on Wilson and the Seahawks need him back and producing as soon as possible. The receiving corps has not been overly effective outside of Tyler Lockett. Doug Baldwin has been limited with injuries and David Moore has not been consistent, although he does have four touchdowns on the season.

Frank Clark has been the star of the defense without Earl Thomas. Clark has eight sacks on the team and has led the pass-rush with Jarron Reed also playing a crucial role. They’ve been solid enough on the back end without the presence of Thomas and the Legion of Boom. However, they have been susceptible to top-quality offenses and will face a challenge against Rodgers.

Green Bay Packers

The Packers responded to their defeat at the hands of the New England Patriots by defeating another AFC East team in the form of the Dolphins. Rodgers was still not operating at the peak of his powers, but still threw for two touchdowns, boasting a quarterback rating of 112.9. It has not been a dominant year from the Packers quarterback, but he still has solid statistics. The positive aspect of Green Bay’s season has been the fact that they are in contention for the post-season without being anywhere near their best.

They are two games behind the Chicago Bears at the top of the NFC North, although the Packers hold the tie-breaker over their rivals. Mike McCarthy’s men have only lost once in their division at the hands of the Detroit Lions. Given that they’re out of the running at the bottom of the NFC North, Green Bay’s destiny is in their own hands ahead of them.

Aaron Jones’ fumble cost his team against the Patriots, but he bounced back with a fine performance against the Dolphins. He rushed for 145 yards and two touchdowns to find his form. Jones could be a very important player for the Packers down the stretch, easing the pressure on the arm of his quarterback. The 23-year-old has all the attributes needed to thrive in the NFL to become a three-down back, Jones just needs to avoid making the crucial errors that proved to be fatal against New England. Green Bay’s receiving corps outside of Davante Adams needs to improve. Marquez Valdes-Scantling has been impressive, but the Packers need more from him and the wideouts to find a complement for Adams.

Blake Martinez has been the centrepiece of the Packers’ defense this season. He has 79 tackles and four sacks, leading the unit through the middle. Green Bay are getting production out of the younger players on their team, starting with Jaire Alexander in the secondary. The cornerback has been excellent in his rookie term and will only improve. Kyler Fackrell, Kenny Clark and Reggie Gilbert have been promising in the absence of plays from Clay Matthews and Mike Daniels.

Betting Options

The Packers have not enjoyed their visits to CenturyLink Field in their recent visits. In 2012 they were the victim of the Fail Mary when Russell Wilson’s throw was intercepted in the endzone by Tramon Williams. Replacement officials were their downfall when they handed the score to Golden Tate after he wretched the ball from the cornerback’s grasp, securing the last-gasp win for Seattle. In the 2014 NFC Championship Game, the Packers were seemingly on their way to the Super Bowl, but Brandon Bostick fumbled an onside kick and allowed the Seahawks to take the lead in the game.

Rodgers forced the contest into overtime, but Wilson and his team prevailed again. Green Bay have won the three meetings since at Lambeau Field, but will have revenge on their minds at the Link. They have the offensive weapons to expose Seattle’s defense therefore back them at odds of 5/42.25+1251.251.25-0.80 to cause the upset on the road at BetOnline. Also back the Packers on the +2 spread at 1/12.00+1001.001.00-1.00 with BetOnline, while take over 51 total points to be scored at 23/202.15+1151.151.15-0.87 with 888Sport.

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About The Author

Tim has lived in the USA for over twenty years and has become a huge fan of both NFL and NBA. Meanwhile, his English roots mean that he retains a passion for his first love - cricket. Having cut his teeth writing for US sports journals, ‘Sincs’ now brings his knowledge and tactical nous to SBO.net with weekly news and betting tips on the biggest sporting events.